Device for removing the growth on a ship&#39;s hull

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for removing the growth on a ship&#39;s hull ( 2 ). This device comprises a cleaning element ( 3 ) and means for displacing this cleaning element over the hull ( 2 ), which means comprise at least one cable ( 4 ) which is arranged such that it passes underneath the keel of the hull ( 2 ) and to which the cleaning element ( 3 ) and means ( 5 ) for moving the cable ( 4 ) are connected. The cleaning element comprises at least one mat ( 3 ) comprising a flat base ( 13 ) consisting of an elastically deformable material, which at least at one side, is provided with a relief ( 14 ) of wear-and-tear-resistant, elastically deformable material. In the mat ( 3 ) at least one magnet ( 17 ) is provided.

[0001] This invention relates to a device for removing the growth on thesteel hull of a ship, which device comprises a cleaning element andmeans for moving this cleaning element over the hull, which meanscomprise at least one cable which is arranged such that it passesunderneath the keel of the hull and to which the cleaning element andthe means for moving the cable are connected.

[0002] On the hull of a ship, in particular a sea ship, moreparticularly, on the part situated under water, algae and otherorganisms are growing, and in particular sea pocks and barnacles orother crustaceae, as a consequence of which the ship experiences alarger resistance in the water during moving, such that this growth hasto be removed from time to time.

[0003] This removal may be performed by divers, however, this istime-consuming and expensive.

[0004] Therefore, devices have been designed for the mechanical removalthereof.

[0005] Such device is described in the Belgian patent No. 901.110.

[0006] This device consists of a carrier frame and means for moving thiscarrier frame with one or two cables alongside the hull of the ship. Inthe carrier frame, a pivotable frame is provided on which brushes aremounted.

[0007] This device has a rather complicated construction and isexpensive. Moreover, the brushes are not always in contact with theship's hull, so that the cleaning is not very efficient.

[0008] Non-rotating brushes are not able to remove, amongst others, seapocks and barnacles.

[0009] Thus, the present invention has as an object a device forremoving the growth on a ship's hull, which is constructively verysimple and relatively inexpensive, however, allows an efficient cleaningand thus also allows to remove sea pocks and barnacles.

[0010] According to the invention, this aim is achieved in that thecleaning element comprises at least one mat which comprises a flat baseconsisting of an elastically deformable material, in particular rubberor a rubber-like material, which, at least at one side, is provided witha relief of a wear-and-tear-resistant, elastically deformable material,preferably the same as the remainder of the mat, in or on which mat atleast one magnet is provided for pushing it against the ship's hull.

[0011] This mat is of a simple construction and does not comprise anymoving parts.

[0012] The relief may consist of ribs, nubs or protrusions with hollowparts.

[0013] At the location of an interruption of the cable, the mat caninterconnect parts of this latter. The cable may also extendcontinuously, the mat being attached thereto.

[0014] The means for displacing the cable preferably are means which candisplace this cable as such, as well as displace the part of this cablesituated along the ship's hull in the longitudinal direction of thishull.

[0015] To this aim, these means may comprise two winches which can bedisplaced in the longitudinal direction of the hull and in between whichthe cable is provided.

[0016] If another strip-shaped part in longitudinal direction of theship must be cleaned, the winches have to be displaced.

[0017] In another form of embodiment, the means for displacing the cablecomprise two stationary winches and two guide means which can bedisplaced in the longitudinal direction of the hull, whereby the cableextends from one winch over guide means at the one side of the hull,passing underneath the keel of the hull, and over guide means at theother side to the other winch.

[0018] With the intention of better showing the characteristics of theinvention, hereafter, as an example without any limitative character,two preferred forms of embodiment of a device for removing the growth ona ship's hull according to the invention are described, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 schematically represents a side view of a ship on which adevice for removing the growth on a ship's hull according to theinvention is provided;

[0020]FIG. 2 schematically represents a plan view of the ship from FIG.1;

[0021]FIG. 3 represents a plan view, similar to that of FIG. 2, however,relating to another form of embodiment of the device according to theinvention;

[0022]FIG. 4, at a larger scale, represents a front view of a mat fromthe device according to the invention;

[0023]FIG. 5 represents a cross-section according to line V-V in FIG. 4,drawn to a larger scale;

[0024]FIG. 6 represents a front view of a mat analogous to that of FIG.4, however, relating to another form of embodiment of the invention;

[0025]FIG. 7 represents a cross-section according to the line VII-VII inFIG. 6, drawn to a larger scale;

[0026]FIG. 8 represents a front view, analogous to that of FIGS. 4 and6, however, relating to still another form of embodiment of the mat;

[0027]FIG. 9 represents a cross-section according to line IX-IX in FIG.8, drawn to a larger scale.

[0028] In FIGS. 1 to 3, a sea ship 1 is represented, whereby the growthon its steel hull 2 is removed by means of a device according to theinvention, which substantially consists of a mat 3 and means fordisplacing this mat 3 over the hull 2.

[0029] These means for displacing the mat 3 consist of a cable 4 whichis provided from deck to deck, passing underneath the keel, and to whichthe mat 3 is attached, and of means 5 for displacing this cable 4 assuch as well as to displace it with its portion situated along the hull2 in the longitudinal direction of the hull 2.

[0030] In the form of embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the means5 for displacing the cable 4 consist of two winches 6 which are arrangedat starboard, port, respectively, on the deck 7 and to which theextremities of the cable 4 are attached.

[0031] These winches 6 can be synchronized such that, when one winch 6is winding the cable 4 on its drum, the other winch 6 unwinds the cable4 from its drum to the same extent.

[0032] As a consequence thereof, the cable 4 as such is displaceable, asa result of which the mat 3 can be displaced up and down along the hull2, such as represented in FIG. 1 by arrows P1.

[0033] In order to displace the part of the cable 4 which is situatedalong the hull 2, as well as the mat 3 in the longitudinal direction ofthe hull 2, as represented by arrows P2, the two winches 6 are arrangedon carriages 8 which can be moved over guides 9 which are provided overthe length of the deck 7.

[0034] On each carriage 8, additional cable guides 8A, for example,horizontal rolls, can be provided for guiding the cable 4 into the waterwhen it is unwound from or wound onto the winch's drum.

[0035] In the form of embodiment represented in FIG. 3, the means fordisplacing the mat 3 also comprise two winches 6, however, those arefixedly arranged at one extremity of the deck 7.

[0036] However, the means comprise two guide means 10-10A, at port,starboard, respectively, which can be displaced in the longitudinaldirection of the ship, which guide means alter the direction of thecable 4, which means, in the represented example, each comprise a wheel10, rotatable around a vertical axis, possibly followed by a horizontalguide or roll 10A, which are provided on carriages. 11 which can bedisplaced over guides 12.

[0037] The cable 4, coming out of the water, alters its direction atopposite sides of the ship 1, over the guide means 10-10A, before beingconnected to a winch 6.

[0038] In order to displace the part of the cable 4 situated along theship's hull 2 in the longitudinal direction of the hull 2, the twocarriages 11 with the guide means 10-10A have to be displacedsimultaneously, in the same direction.

[0039] The carriages 11 and the guides 12 do not have to be realized asheavy as in the above-described form of embodiment, on account of thefact that they do not have to carry heavy winches 6.

[0040] As represented in detail in FIGS. 4 to 9, the mat 3 substantiallyconsists of a supple and elastically deformable flat base 13, which, atthe front side with which it is directed towards the hull 2, is providedwith a relief 14 which also is elastically deformable.

[0041] The base 13 and the relief 14 are manufactured of the samematerial, although it is not excluded that in variants, the base 13 andthe relief 14 are manufactured of different, but still elasticallydeformable materials.

[0042] Even if they are manufactured of the same material, due to theapplied manufacturing techniques, the physical properties of the base 13and the relief 14 may differ. So, the density of the relief may behigher than that of the base 13, such that the relief 14 in fact iselastically deformable, however, still is harder and more rigid than thebase 13.

[0043] The aforementioned material is, for example, rubber, natural aswell as synthetic rubber, such as neoprene or butyle rubber. Invariants, the material of the base 13 and/or the relief 14 may beanother rubber-like material or a wear-and-tear-resistant supplesynthetic material, such as nylon.

[0044] At its rear side turned away from the hull 2, the base 13 isprovided with protruding edges 15, and in the hollow part 16 situatedbetween these edges 15, a number of magnets 17 are attached to the base13, which magnets provide for that the mat 3, during the displacementthereof over the steel hull 2, is retained against this latter.

[0045] The base 13 is oblong and, for example, rectangular. At bothextremities, this base 13 is fixed to the continuing cable 4 by means ofclamps 18.

[0046] The relief 14 may take a variety of forms.

[0047] In the form of embodiment represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, therelief 14 is formed by conical nubs 19.

[0048] The form of embodiment represented in FIGS. 6 and 7 differs fromthe form of embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 in that the relief 14is formed by wavy ribs 20.

[0049] Finally, in the form of embodiment represented in FIGS. 8 and 9,the relief 14 is formed by cylindrical or prismatic protrusions 21 whichin the middle are provided with an opening or hollow part.

[0050] The functioning of the device according to the invention is verysimple and as follows.

[0051] By means of the winches 6, the cable 4 is moved to and fro, as aresult of which the mat 3 connected thereto also is moved up and downaccording to arrows P1 and thereby removes the growth.

[0052] Also by the magnets 17, the mat 3 thereby is pushed against themetal hull 2 of the ship. As said mat is elastically deformable, ithereby adapts to shape alterations or unevennesses of this hull 2.

[0053] Due to the special relief 14 consisting of awear-and-tear-resistant material, an optimum removal of the growth,including sea pocks and barnacles, is ensured.

[0054] When, after the mat 3 has been repeatedly moved in theaforementioned manner from port to starboard and back, a certainstrip-shaped part of the hull 2 has been cleaned, then in the form ofembodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 both winches 6 are driven furtherabout the width of said part, after which the cable 4 again is moved toand fro by the winches 6 and the mat 3 cleans another strip-shaped partof the hull 2.

[0055] In the form of embodiment according to FIG. 3, not the winches 6,but only the guides 12 are displaced. Hereby, the cable 4 of course mustbe wound upon both winches 6 or unwound therefrom for a short length.After the displacement, the cable 4 further is drawn to and fro aroundthe keel, and another strip-shaped part is cleaned by the mat 3.

[0056] The cable 4 must not necessarily be interrupted at the locationof the mat 3. It may also extend continuously.

[0057] At the mat 3, also two or more cables 4 may be attached next toeach other.

[0058] The present invention is in no way limited to the forms ofembodiment described as an example and represented in the figures, onthe contrary may such device for cleaning ships' hulls be realized indifferent forms and dimensions, without leaving the scope of theinvention.

1. Device for removing the growth on the steel hull (2) of a ship, whichdevice comprises a cleaning element (3) and means for displacing thiscleaning element over the hull (2), which means comprise at least onecable (4) which is arranged such that it passes underneath the keel ofthe hull (2) and to which the cleaning element (3) and means (5) formoving the cable (4) are connected, characterized in that the cleaningelement comprises at least one mat (3) comprising a flat base (13)consisting of an elastically deformable material, which, at least at oneside, is provided with a relief (14) of wear-and-tear-resistant,elastically deformable material, in or on which mat (3) at least onemagnet (17) is provided for pushing this mat (3) against the ship's hull(2).
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the relief(14) is manufactured of the same material as the remainder of the mat(3).
 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that therelief (14) is manufactured of rubber or a rubber-like material. 4.Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe relief consists of ribs (20).
 5. Device according to any of theclaims 1 to 3, characterized in that the relief consists of nubs (19).6. Device according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe relief consists of protrusions (21) with hollow parts.
 7. Deviceaccording to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mat(3) is situated at the location of an interruption of the cable (4) andinterconnects parts of the cable (4).
 8. Device according to any of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the means (5) for displacing thecable (4) are means which can displace this cable (4) as such, as wellas means which can displace the portion of the cable (4) situated alongthe ship's hull (2) in the longitudinal direction of this hull (2). 9.Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the means (5) fordisplacing the cable (4) comprise two winches (6) which can be moved inthe longitudinal direction of the hull (2) and in between which thecable (4) is provided.
 10. Device according to claim 8, characterized inthat the means (5) for displacing the cable (4) comprise two stationarywinches (6) and at least two guide means (10-10A) which can be displacedin the longitudinal direction of the hull (2), whereby the cable (4)extending from one winch (6) runs from the first guide (10), underneaththe keel of the hull (2), over a second guide (10) to the other winch(6).